Sensitive Skin Care

sensitive skin product recommendations and favorites

Sensitive skin care favorite products
Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

I was thinking the other day that I wanted a place to really talk about sensitive skin.

I tried looking up such a space that wasn't a forum, group on Facebook, or shop filled with products to buy, but I couldn't find one.

If you have found a great skin care blog that caters to sensitive skin types, please let me know. I just want a place we can talk about what's real for us and not worry about whether or not we're being sold on something.

It seems like there are a few different categories of skin care seekers:

Beauty bloggers & influencers who try, review, and promote make-up and skin care products & offer personal advice (often framed around affiliate marketing)

Self-proclaimed skin care fanatics who love to try everything at least once & share their reviews & advice

Natural skin care types centered around green beauty and natural skin care options + some who offer DIY ideas &/or make their own products

Dermatologists and estheticians who offer skin care advice on a blog tied to their practice

Regular people who just want to keep their face clean and look nice

Skin care seekers with specific needs: i.e. sensitive skin, acne, aging skin, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, etc. who are looking for help and advice to help ease their skin care woes and find products that work for their skin

Where do you fit?

As for me, I'm a sensitive skin type. I was diagnosed with Rosacea several years ago and am always looking for good products that really work for sensitive skin. I love the idea of using all natural skin care products and am a sucker for anything DIY and I'm a big promoter of helping people find the best ways to care for their skin.

Since dermatologists (that I've seen) don't generally give recommendations for off-the-shelf skin care products, I crave to know what other people with Rosacea or sensitive skin are using and what they think of these products.

There are so many skin care products out there that state they are for all skin types, but unless it says for sensitive skin, I'm skeptical, and even if it says for sensitive skin, I'm skeptical.

I'd love to get a list going of some of the products you have tried on your sensitive skin and what you think of them.

Skin care favorite products for Rosacea and Sensitive skin

Here's the "short-list" of what I currently used/use to get us started:

Cleansers for sensitive skin and Rosacea:

Eucerin Redness Relief cleanser
I used to use this and it worked well. I liked the feel of the cool gel but after trying Vanicream, I switched because I liked it a little better.

Vanicream gentle cleanser
Currently what I use. I like that it is fragrance free and gentle and I like how it cleans.

Simple Sugars body scrub
*I don't use this on my face. I use this on my arms and legs every once in a while. I LOVE the coconut. It smells amazing. Because the sugars are mixed with oils, it exfoliates dead skin and seals in moisture. I love that Lani Lazzari created it out of her own skin care needs, as a sufferer of sensitive skin and eczema herself. Be aware that it does leave the shower slippery because of the oils so be careful.

Sodium Sulfacetamide-Sulfer Cleanser (Sulfer face wash)
My dermatologist, who also has sensitive skin and Rosacea (bonus for me!) recommended this face wash because she loves it. Since it's made with sulfur, it has a not so pleasant egg smell, so she recommended using it at night (how fun for whoever sleeps next to you). I only used this a few times because of the smell, but it's supposed to be gentle, while helping to reduce Rosacea flares. You could ask your derm about it in your next visit, as you do need a prescription for it.

Moisturizers for sensitive skin and Rosacea

Vanicream lite lotion
I use this year round on my face. I like it because it is fragrance free, and is free from the average chemical irritants. It was also suggested by my dermatologist.

Vanicream skin cream
This is a heavier version of the lite lotion. It helps combat dryness so I use it on and off during the winter.

Sarna Sensitive lotion
If your skin ever feels itchy, this is an amazing lotion. It is light-weight and steroid free, and feels cool against your skin and takes the itch away. It has never clogged my skin and feels really soothing. It is not found in the regular skin care aisles, it's found in the ant-itch section of most drug stores over by first aid. Be sure to get Sarna Sensitive instead of Original because the lotion has a slightly medicated scent and the Original smells much stronger.

Sunscreen for Sensitive Skin and Rosacea

Eucerin SPF 30 face lotion
I have been wearing this for years and my skin seems to tolerate it pretty well. I still wonder if there is something equally as good or better out there. It's not greasy, goes on with a slight white sheen that slowly disappears and is light-weight enough to wear under my make-up without looking like I slathered my face in sunscreen.

Vanicream SPF 50 & SPF 35 Sport
Their SPF 50 is a thick sunscreen that blocks like a body suit and is free from chemical irritants. Because it is so thick, I use it when I'm going to be out on the water or sitting at the beach or pool. Nothing can get through this stuff. It does smear on things and feels like a 2nd skin, but it will protect you. I haven't tried the 35 sport but have it on my list for this summer so maybe it won't feel quite so thick.

Skin care tools for Sensitive skin & Rosacea

Fairface Washcloths
Disclaimer, this is my product. I created these soft, soothing washcloths after I was diagnosed with Rosacea. I couldn't find anything that was soft enough to cleanse my sensitive skin with that didn't cause redness and irritation, so I began making my own.

Because they have been so good to my skin, I began making and selling them thru etsy and since then we have shared and shipped all over the world. These really are the only washcloths I will use on my face because they are soft, gentle and non-irritating.

Other skin care products for Sensitive skin & Rosacea

RESIST BHA 9 Treatment from Paula's Choice
Let me first say, I really like Paula's Choice's approach to selling their skin care products. They seem be the kind of company who cares about their customers making educated decisions. They have "experts" you can call to give you advice on products for your skin type and a very comprehensive website.

While I haven't used a lot of their products (goes back to my fear of trying new products even if they say they are for sensitive skin + I tried one that was too harsh for my skin), I do use one product and love it. The Resist BHA 9 is a salicylic acid spot treatment (don't let that scare you) to help minimize bumps and pores. I've used it on my nose and forehead with good results, even me - the Rosacea-prone-sensitive-skin-type. The serum does leave an oily sheen so you can only use it at night.

Foundation / make-up

Mary Kay medium coverage
I've been using Mary Kay medium coverage foundation for about 12 years. While it does give me adequate coverage, I'm not sure if my face totally loves it (as I do have occasional itchy spots). With Rosacea it's hard to know if it's the product on my face or just my skin.

Now it's YOUR turn!
What sensitive skin products do you use, have you used, loved/hated or want to try? I'm excited to get the conversation started!